Helical auger flight assemblies and thresher formed therewith

ABSTRACT

A helical auger flight has an inner edge, an outer edge, an inner face, an outer face, and a leading extremity that includes a prominence and a leading edge that extends from the outer edge to the prominence. The prominence extends outward from the leading edge of the leading extremity to an outer end having an upturned jut. A wear plate is releasably connected to the inner face of the helical auger flight. The wear plate extends from the outer edge of the helical auger flight to the prominence. A front extremity of the wear plate extends forwardly of the leading edge of the helical auger flight so as to be in a shielding relationship with respect to the leading edge of the helical auger flight, and a nose of the front extremity of the wear plated is seated in direct contact against a contact surface of the jut.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to combine harvesters and, moreparticularly, to threshers of combine harvesters.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Agriculture is a major industry in the U.S., which is a net exporter offood. Presently there are approximately 2.2 million farms in the U.S.covering an area of approximately 920 million acres. Although in 1800approximately ninety percent of the entire U.S. population was employedin agriculture, present day numbers have dropped to approximately twopercent due largely to the development and implementation of large,automated agricultural equipment, such as combine harvesters, which havereplaced large numbers of farm workers.

The crops grown in the U.S., such as wheat, barley, and rye, are onlypartly edible. While the seeds or grains at the top of each plant areedible and useful for making products such as bread and cereal, the restof the plant, which is known as the chaff, is inedible and has to bediscarded. Before modern-day machines were developed, such as in the1800's, agricultural workers had to harvest crops by carrying out aseries of laborious operations one after another. First they had to cutdown the plants with a long-handled cutting tool such as a scythe. Next,they had to separate the edible grain from the inedible chaff by beatingthe cut stalks in an operation known as threshing. Finally, they had toclean any remaining debris away from the seeds to make them suitable foruse in a mill. All this took a considerable amount of time and laborrequiring large numbers of farm workers. The modern combine harvestercarries out these various operations automatically eliminating the needfor numerous farm workers.

In operation, a combine harvester is driven through a field of a growingcrop, whereby the combine harvester cuts, threshes, and separates thegrain from the chaff using rotating blades, wheels, sieves, andelevators. The grain collects in a tank inside the combine harvester,which is periodically emptied into tractors that drive alongside, whilethe chaff is ejected onto the field from an ejection spout at the backof the combine harvester.

In general, a combine harvester includes a header, a pickup reel, acutter, a threshing drum, sieves, a collection tank, and conveyors, suchas rotating belts and spinning augers. The header gathers the crop, andthe pickup reel pushes the crop down toward the cutter, which cuts thecrop at the base near ground level. A conveyor picks up the cuttingsfrom the cutter, and conveys the cuttings to the threshing drum, whichrotates and threshes the cuttings separating the grains from the chaffto form threshings, namely, the chaff and the separated grains. Aconveyance conveys the threshings along the thresher from an upstreamlocation of thresher to a downstream location of thresher as thethresher rotates and the grains fall through sieves into a collectiontank inside the combine harvester, which is periodically emptied, suchas into tractors that drive alongside, while a conveyor takes up andconveys the chaff to the ejection spout for ejection onto the field.Some combine harvesters have a rotating spreader mechanism that throwsthe chaff over a wide area, while others have bailers that bail thechaff for later use, such as for animal bedding.

Many threshing drums are formed with helical auger flights, which workto drive cuttings to the threshing drum for threshing. These augerflights forcibly rotate through the cuttings with the rotation of thethreshing drum and are prone to substantial wear and damage, whichnecessitates regular flight repair or replacement. Repairing andreplacing auger flights of threshing drums is expensive, time-consuming,and difficult, and results in costly downtime that most farmers simplycannot afford, thereby necessitating certain new and useful improvementsin the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the principle of the invention, a combine harvesterthresher includes a combine harvester threshing drum mounted forrotation in a threshing direction of rotation for threshing cropcuttings to form threshings. The threshing drum has a cylindricalexterior and a cuttings intake end. A helical auger flight is affixed tothe cylindrical exterior of the threshing drum near the cuttings intakeend of the threshing drum. The helical auger flight has a leading enddirected into the threshing direction of rotation and an opposedtrailing end directed away from the threshing direction of rotation, anouter face facing toward the cuttings intake end of the threshing drumand away from the threshing direction of rotation and an opposed innerface facing away from the cuttings intake end of the threshing drum andinto the threshing direction of rotation for driving cuttings to thethreshing drum for threshing from the cuttings intake end of thethreshing drum in response to rotation of the threshing drum in thethreshing direction of rotation. A sacrificial shield and wear plate isreleasably attached to the leading end of the helical auger flight. Thewear plate is for shielding the leading end of the helical auger flightfrom impacting cuttings and for deflecting cuttings away from thecuttings intake end of the threshing drum and to the inner face of thehelical auger flight in response to rotation of the threshing drum inthe threshing direction of rotation. The wear plate includes a bodyhaving an inner end and an opposed outer end, an outer surface and anopposed inner surface. The outer surface of the body of the wear platenear the inner end of the body of the wear plate is positioned alongsideof the inner face of the helical auger flight near the leading end ofthe helical auger flight. The inner end of the wear plate is releasablyattached to the leading end of the helical auger flight with releasablefasteners. The wear plate extends across the leading end of the helicalauger flight, extends away from the leading end of the helical augerflight from the inner end of the wear plate releasably attached to theleading end of the helical auger flight to the outer end of the wearplate, and the outer end of the wear plate extends outwardly from theleading end of the helical auger flight, is located ahead of the leadingend of the helical auger flight, and is angled toward the cuttingsintake end of the threshing drum and away from the inner and outer facesof the helical auger flight, all for shielding the leading end of thehelical auger flight from impacting cuttings in response to rotation ofthe threshing drum in the threshing direction of rotation. The innersurface of the wear plate includes a deflecting inner surface thatextends outwardly from and ahead of the leading end of the helical augerflight to the outer end of the wear plate and is angled toward thecuttings intake end of the threshing drum and away from the inner andouter faces of the helical auger flight for deflecting cuttings awayfrom the cuttings intake end of the threshing drum and to the inner faceof the helical auger flight in response to rotation of the threshingdrum in the threshing direction of rotation. The inner face of thehelical auger flight is set at a first angle relative to the threshingdirection of rotation of the threshing drum, the deflecting innersurface of the wear plate is set at a second angle relative to thethreshing direction of rotation of the threshing drum, and the secondangle is greater than the first angle. The body is a single one-pieceunitary body formed of hardened steel or cast iron, and the fastenerseach consist of a nut-and-bolt fastener.

According to the principle of the invention, a combine harvesterthresher includes a combine harvester threshing drum mounted forrotation in a threshing direction of rotation for threshing cropcuttings to form threshings. The threshing drum has a cylindricalexterior and a cuttings intake end. A helical auger flight affixed tothe cylindrical exterior of the threshing drum near the cuttings intakeend of the threshing drum. The helical auger flight has a leading edgedirected into the threshing direction of rotation and an opposedtrailing end directed away from the threshing direction of rotation, anouter face facing toward the cuttings intake end of the threshing drumand away from the threshing direction of rotation and an opposed innerface facing away from the cuttings intake end of the threshing drum andinto the threshing direction of rotation for driving cuttings to thethreshing drum for threshing from the cuttings intake end of thethreshing drum in response to rotation of the threshing drum in thethreshing direction of rotation. The leading edge of the helical augerflight has opposed proximal and distal ends, wherein the proximal end islocated near the cylindrical outer surface of the threshing drum, andthe leading edge of the helical auger flight extends outwardly from theproximal end near the cylindrical outer surface of the threshing drum tothe opposed distal end. The leading edge of the helical auger flight hasa length extending from the proximal end of the leading edge to thedistal end of the leading edge. A sacrificial shield and wear plate isreleasably attached to the helical auger flight. The wear plate is forshielding the leading edge of the helical auger flight from impactingcuttings and for deflecting cuttings away from the cuttings intake endof the threshing drum and to the inner face of the helical auger flightin response to rotation of the threshing drum in the threshing directionof rotation. The wear plate includes a body having an inner end and anopposed outer end, an outer surface and an opposed inner surface. Theouter surface of the body of the wear plate near the inner end of thebody of the wear plate is positioned alongside the inner face of thehelical auger flight near the leading edge of the helical auger flight.The inner end of the wear plate is releasably attached to the helicalauger flight with releasable fasteners. The wear plate extends away fromthe leading edge of the helical auger flight from the inner end of thewear plate releasably attached to the helical auger flight to the outerend of the wear plate. The wear plate extends across and along theentire length of the leading edge of the helical auger flight from theproximal end of the leading edge to the distal end of the leading edge,and the outer end of the wear plate extends outwardly from the leadingedge of the helical auger flight, is located ahead of the leading edgeof the helical auger flight, and is angled toward the cuttings intakeend of the threshing drum and away from the inner and outer faces of thehelical auger flight, all for shielding the leading edge of the helicalauger flight from impacting cuttings in response to rotation of thethreshing drum in the threshing direction of rotation. The inner surfaceof the wear plate includes a deflecting inner surface that extendsoutwardly from and ahead of the leading edge of the helical auger flightto the outer end of the wear plate and is angled toward the cuttingsintake end of the threshing drum and away from the inner and outer facesof the helical auger flight for deflecting cuttings away from thecuttings intake end of the threshing drum and to the inner face of thehelical auger flight in response to rotation of the threshing drum inthe threshing direction of rotation. The inner face of the helical augerflight is set at a first angle relative to the threshing direction ofrotation of the threshing drum, the inner surface of the wear plate isset at a second angle relative to the threshing direction of rotation ofthe threshing drum, and the second angle is greater than the firstangle. The body further is a single one-piece unitary body formed ofhardened steel or cast iron, and the fasteners each consist of anut-and-bolt fastener.

According to the principle of the invention, a combine harvesterthresher includes a combine harvester threshing drum that is mounted forrotation in a threshing direction of rotation for threshing cropcuttings to form threshings. The threshing drum has a cylindricalexterior and a cuttings intake end. A helical auger flight includes aleading extremity, a trailing extremity, inner and outer edges thatextend between the leading and trailing extremities, an inner face, andan outer face. The leading extremity includes a leading edge and aprominence near the inner edge of the helical auger flight. Theprominence has an inner end and an outer end. The leading edge extendsfrom the outer edge of the helical auger flight to the inner end of theprominence. The prominence extends outward from the leading edge of theleading extremity from the inner end to the outer end. The outer end ofthe prominence has an upturned jut that terminates distally at a tip.The jut has a contact surface that extends between the outer end of theprominence and the tip. The contact surface faces inwardly toward theleading edge. The outer end of the prominence further includes a forwardedge that extends between the inner edge of the helical auger flight andthe tip of the prominence. The helical auger flight is affixed to thecylindrical exterior of the threshing drum near the cuttings intake endof the threshing drum. The helical auger flight extends helicallyoutward from the cylindrical exterior of the threshing drum from theinner edge to the outer edge, the leading extremity is directed into thethreshing direction of rotation, the trailing extremity is directed awayfrom the threshing direction of rotation, the outer face is directedforwardly toward the cuttings intake end of the threshing drum and awayfrom the threshing direction of rotation, the inner face is directedrearwardly away from the cuttings intake end of the threshing drum andinto the threshing direction of rotation for driving cuttings to thethreshing drum for threshing from the cuttings intake end of thethreshing drum in response to rotation of the threshing drum in thethreshing direction of rotation. A wear plate has an upper extremity, alower extremity, a rear extremity, and a front extremity. The frontextremity has a front edge and a nose. The front extremity extends fromthe upper extremity and along the nose to the lower extremity of thewear plate. The wear plate is releasably connected to the inner face ofthe helical auger flight. The wear plate extends from the outer edge ofthe helical auger flight to the inner end of the prominence. The frontextremity extends forwardly of the leading edge of the helical augerflight to the front edge so as to shield the leading edge of the helicalauger flight from impacting cuttings and for deflecting cuttingsrearwardly away from the cuttings intake end of the threshing drum inresponse to rotation of the threshing drum in the threshing direction ofrotation. The nose of the wear plate is in direct contact against thecontact surface of the jut, and the forward edge of the prominence andthe front edge of the wear plate converge at the tip of jut and the noseof the wear plate, respectively, where the nose and the jut intersect.The wear plate is releasably connected to the helical auger flight withreleasable fasteners. The releasable fasteners are applied to a firstset of fastener openings through the helical auger flight and a secondset of fastener openings through the wear plate. The fastener openingsof first and second sets of fastener openings are each elongate. Thefastener openings of the first set of fastener openings are eachelongate in a first direction, and the fastener openings of the secondset of fastener openings are each elongate in a second directiondifferent from the first direction so as to permit adjustment of thewear plate in multiple directions. The first direction is parallel tothe contact surface, and the second direction is oblique with respect tothe first direction and parallel with respect to the leading edge of thehelical auger flight.

According to the principle of the invention, a helical auger flightassembly includes a helical auger flight having a leading extremity, atrailing extremity, inner and outer edges that extend between theleading and trailing extremities, an inner face, and an outer face. Theleading extremity includes a leading edge and a prominence having aninner end and an outer end. The leading edge extends from the outer edgeof the helical auger flight to the inner end of the prominence. Theprominence extends outward from the leading edge of the leadingextremity from the inner end to the outer end. The outer end has anupturned jut that terminates distally at a tip. The jut has a contactsurface that extends between the outer end of the prominence and thetip. The contact surface faces inwardly toward the leading edge. Theouter end of the prominence further includes a forward edge that extendsbetween the inner edge of the helical auger flight and the tip. A wearplate has an upper extremity, a lower extremity, a rear extremity, and afront extremity. The front extremity has a front edge and a nose andextends from the upper extremity to the lower extremity and therebeyondto the nose of the wear plate. The wear plate is releasably connected tothe inner face of the helical auger flight. The wear plate extends fromthe outer edge of the helical auger flight to the inner end of theprominence, the front extremity extends forwardly of the leading edge ofthe helical auger flight to the front edge so as to be in a shieldingrelationship with respect to the leading edge of the helical augerflight, the nose of the wear plate is in direct contact against thecontact surface of the jut, and the forward edge of the prominence andthe front edge of the wear plate converge at the tip of jut and the noseof the wear plate, respectively, where the nose and the jut intersect.The wear plate is releasably connected to the helical auger flight withreleasable fasteners. The releasable fasteners are applied to a firstset of fastener openings through the helical auger flight and a secondset of fastener openings through the wear plate. The fastener openingsof first and second sets of fastener openings are each elongate. Thefastener openings of the first set of fastener openings are eachelongate in a first direction, and the fastener openings of the secondset of fastener openings are each elongate in a second directiondifferent from the first direction so as to permit adjustment of thewear plate in multiple directions. The first direction is parallel tothe contact surface, and the second direction is oblique with respect tothe first direction and parallel with respect to the leading edge of thehelical auger flight.

Consistent with the foregoing summary of preferred embodiments, and theensuing detailed description, which are to be taken together, theinvention also contemplates associated apparatus and method embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a highly generalized schematic representation of a combineharvester incorporating a thresher concave operatively positioned undera thresher consisting of a threshing drum formed with helical augerflights formed with sacrificial shield and wear plates constructed andarranged in accordance with the principle of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmented perspective view of the thresher of FIG. 1illustrating the helical auger flights formed with the sacrificialshield and wear plates constructed and arranged in accordance with theprinciple of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a view somewhat similar that of FIG. 2 illustrating thehelical auger flights formed with the sacrificial shield and wear platesconstructed and arranged in accordance with the principle of theinvention;

FIG. 4 is a partially schematic side elevation view of the thresher ofFIG. 1 illustrating the helical auger flights formed with thesacrificial shield and wear plates constructed and arranged inaccordance with the principle of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 2 illustrating thesacrificial shield and wear plates in explosion view with respect to thehelical auger flights;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmented perspective view of a leading end ofone of the helical flights of the thresher of FIG. 1 and show as itwould appear with an attached sacrificial shield and wear plateconstructed and arranged in accordance with the principle of theinvention;

FIG. 7 is another enlarged fragmented perspective view of the embodimentof FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a section view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of a sacrificial shield and wearplate constructed and arranged in accordance with the principle of theinvention;

FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a thresher incorporating helical augerflight assemblies constructed and arranged in accordance with theprinciple of the invention, the helical auger flight assemblies eachincluding an alternate embodiment of a sacrificial shield and wear plateaffixed to an alternate embodiment of a helical auger flight;

FIG. 12 is a front elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a front elevation view a one of the helical auger flightassemblies of FIG. 11 shown as it would appear assembled and detachedfrom the thresher;

FIG. 14 is a front elevation view similar to that of FIG. 12illustrating one of the helical auger flight assemblies as it wouldappear disassembled and detached from the thresher;

FIG. 14A is a rear elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 14 illustrating awear plate as it would appear applied to a helical auger flight;

FIG. 14B is a rear elevation view of the wear plate of FIGS. 14 and 14A;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged, fragmented view of a leading extremity of thehelical auger flight that is shown detached from the thresher in FIG.14;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged, fragmented view of the embodiment of FIG. 13illustrating the sacrificial shield and wear plate as it would appearreleasably connected to the helical auger flight;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged, fragmented view of the embodiment of FIG. 16illustrating a nose of the sacrificial shield and wear plate as it wouldappear in direct contact against a contact surface of a jut of aprominence of the helical auger flight;

FIG. 18 is a view similar to that of FIG. 16 illustrating thesacrificial shield and wear plate as it would appear worn down as aresult of prolonged use and affixed to the helical auger flight in anadjusted position to compensate for the illustrated wear;

FIG. 19 is a rear perspective view of an alternate embodiment of asacrificial shield and wear plate constructed and arranged in accordancewith the principle of the invention;

FIG. 20 is a front perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a rear elevation view of the sacrificial shield and wearplate of FIGS. 19 and 20 shown as it would appear applied to a helicalauger flight in preparation for installation; and

FIG. 22 is a front elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 21.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning now to the drawings, in which like reference characters indicatecorresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is firstdirected to FIG. 1 in which there is seen a highly generalized schematicrepresentation of a combine harvester 50 that, in general, includes aheader 51, a pickup reel 52, a cutter 53, a thresher 55 operable forthreshing crop cuttings to form threshings, a conveyer 54 formed betweencutter 53 and thresher 55, a combine harvester concave or thresherconcave 56 operatively positioned underneath thresher 55, sieves 57, acollection tank 58, and an array of conveyors, such as rotating beltsand spinning augers. In the operation of combine harvester 50 as it isdriven through a crop, header 51 gathers the crop, and pickup reel 52pushes the crop to cutter 53, which cuts the crop at the base nearground level to form crop cuttings or, simply, cuttings. Conveyor 54picks up the cuttings from cutter 53, and conveys the cuttings tothresher 55 for threshing. Thresher 55 is mounted for rotation androtates relative to thresher concave 56 in a threshing direction ofrotation generally indicated by arcuate arrowed line A about axis X ofrotation of thresher 55 and threshes the cuttings along thresher concave56 separating the grains from the chaff to form threshings, namely, thechaff and the separated grains. Specifically, conveyor 54 picks up thecuttings from cutter 53, and conveys the cuttings to a cuttings intakeend 62 of thresher 55. Cuttings intake end 62 of thresher 55 isconsidered an upstream end of thresher 55. As thresher 55 rotates in thethreshing direction of rotation A about axis X of rotation of thresher55 and threshes the cuttings to form threshings, the threshings aremoved along thresher 55 in a direction from cuttings intake end 62 ofthresher 55 to a downstream location or end (not shown) of thresher 55,the grains formed by the threshing action of thresher 55 fall throughsieves 57 into collection tank 58 inside combine harvester 50, which isperiodically emptied, such as into tractors that drive alongside, whilea conveyor takes up and conveys the chaff to an ejection spout forejection onto the field. As described above, combine harvester 50 isexemplary of a typical combine harvester well known in the art, furtherdetails of which will readily occur to the skilled artisan and will notbe discussed in further detail. Also, in FIG. 1 thresher 55 is mountedtransversely with respect to the long axis of combine harvester 50. Inthe alternatively, thresher 55 can be mounted longitudinally withrespect to the long axis of combine harvester 50.

FIG. 2 is a fragmented perspective view of the thresher 55 of FIG. 1illustrating segment of thresher 55 including cuttings intake end 62 ofthresher 55. As shown in FIG. 2, thresher 55 includes a threshing drum60 that, as explained above, is mounted for rotation in a conventionalmanner in threshing direction of rotation A about axis X of rotation ofthreshing drum 60 of thresher 55. Threshing drum 60 rotates about axis Xof rotation. For clarity it is to be understood that axis X of rotationis not only the axis of rotation of thresher 55 but also the axis ofrotation of threshing drum 60. As such, axis X of rotation is referredto interchangeably as being the axis of rotation of thresher 55 and alsothreshing drum 60 of thresher 55. Axis X of rotation X is perpendicularrelative to the threshing direction of rotation A of threshing drum 60,and this orientation of axis X relative to threshing direction ofrotation A of threshing drum 60 is best illustrated for referencepurposes in FIG. 8.

Threshing drum 60 has a cylindrical outer surface or exterior 61, and apopulation of conventional threshing drum threshing rasps or bars 70 isaffixed to cylindrical exterior 61 of threshing drum 60. Cylindricalexterior 61 has the customary frusto-conical segment or cone 61Aextending outwardly to cuttings intake end 62, which is the narrowed endor outermost extremity of cone 61A. Diametrically opposed helical augerflights 80 and 81 are affixed to cone 61A of cylindrical exterior 61 ofthreshing drum 60 near cuttings intake end 62 of threshing drum 60.Arrowed line A indicates the direction of rotation of threshing drum 60about axis X of rotation of threshing drum 60, which is the direction ofrotation/travel of threshing rasps or bars 70 and also helical augerflights 80 and 81 affixed to threshing drum 60.

In response to rotation of threshing drum 60 in the threshing directionof rotation A about axis X of rotation, threshing rasps or bars 70 andhelical auger flights 80 are driven so as to rotate in the threshingdirection of rotation A about axis X of rotation of thresher 55.Threshing rasps or bars 70 are operable for threshing a crop appliedbetween cylindrical exterior 61 of threshing drum 60 and thresherconcave 56 illustrated in FIG. 1 in response to rotation of threshingdrum 60 in the threshing direction of rotation A. And so in response torotation of threshing drum 60 in the threshing direction rotation Aabout axis X of threshing drum 60, threshing bars 70 thresh the cropcuttings between cylindrical exterior 61 and thresher concave 56illustrated in FIG. 1 separating the grains from the chaff to formthreshings, namely, the chaff and the separated grains. In thisthreshing process, the threshings move along the rotating thresher 55 ina direction indicated generally by arrowed line B in FIG. 2 fromcuttings intake end 62 of threshing drum 60 of thresher 55 to thedownstream location or end (not shown) of thresher drum 60 of thresher55, and the threshings subsequently are caused to be moved in thedirection generally indicated by arrowed line C in FIG. 1 to sieves 57and to collection tank 58, whereby the grains fall through sieves 57into collection tank 58 inside combine harvester 50, which isperiodically emptied, such as into tractors that drive alongside, whilea conveyor takes up and conveys the chaff to an ejection spout forejection onto the field. As threshing drum 60 rotates in the threshingdirection of rotation A about axis X of threshing drum 60, conveyor 54applies cuttings to cuttings intake end 62 of thresher drum 60 ofthresher 55 and helical auger flights 80 and 81 forcibly rotate throughthe cuttings applied to cuttings intake end 62 of thresher drum 60 ofthresher 55 and interact with and drive the cuttings to thresher drum 60for threshing in the direction indicated by arrowed line B in FIG. 2.Helical auger flights 80 and 81 cooperate together as a cuttings intakeor driving auger system or assembly that receives the cuttings and, inturn, applies the cuttings to thresher drum 60 for threshing fromcuttings intake end 62.

For reference and understanding, FIG. 1 is exemplary of a highlygeneralized left side elevation view of combine harvester 50, andarrowed line A indicates a counterclockwise rotational direction ofthreshing drum 60 being the threshing direction of rotation A ofthresher 55, including threshing rasps or bars 70 and helical augerflights 80 and 81. In the present example, threshing drum 60 istransverse relative to combine 50, and in an alternate embodimentthreshing drum 60 is mounted longitudinally along the long axis ofcombine 50.

Helical auger flights 80 are identical to one another in every respect,and thresher 55 is configured with two opposed helical auger flights 80and 81 in the present embodiment that together cooperate as a cuttingsintake or driving auger system or assembly operable for picking up anddriving cuttings in the direction of arrowed line B in FIG. 2 tothresher drum 60 of thresher 55 for threshing. Because helical augerflights 80 and 81 are identical to one another, the details of augerflight 80 will be discussed in detail, with the understanding that theensuing discussion of helical auger flight 80 applies equally to helicalauger flight 81. Also, because auger flights 80 and 81 are identical,they are referenced with common reference characters as is appropriatein conjunction with this specification.

Referencing FIGS. 2-5 in relevant part, helical auger flight 80 is avane 90. Vane 90 consists of a single, unitary body fashioned of steelor other strong, rugged metal. Vane 90 is a thin, curved body that ismade or otherwise caused to rotate about axis X in the threshingdirection of rotation A in response to rotation of threshing drum 60 inthe threshing direction of rotation A about axis X being the axis ofrotation of threshing drum 60. Vane 90 is thin in that it isapproximately ½-¾ of an inch thick. Vane 90 has an arcuate orcurvilinear inner or lower edge 91 and an opposed arcuate or curvilinearouter or upper edge 92, a forward or leading extremity or end 93 anopposed rearward or trailing extremity or end 94, an outer face 95 andan opposed inner face 96, which is the working face of vane 90 in thenature of a cuttings driving face of vane 90 of flight 80. Vane 90 iselongate in that it has a length extending from leading end 93 totrailing end 94, and vane 90 has a width extending from lower edge 91 toupper edge 92. The width of vane 90 extending between lower edge 91 andupper edge 92 is not constant and has its greatest dimension at leadingend 93 of vane 90 and its least dimension at trailing end 94 of vane 90.Furthermore, the width of vane 90 between lower edge 91 of vane 90 andupper edge 92 of vane 90 gradually tapers, i.e. becomes graduallysmaller, from leading end 93 of vane 90 to trailing end 94 of vane 90.

Vane 90 is affixed to cone 61A of cylindrical exterior 61 near loweredge 91. Vane 90 is preferably affixed to cone 61A of cylindricalexterior 61 near lower edge 91 with releasable fasteners 97, which arepreferably conventional nut-and-bolt fasteners. The nut-and-boltfasteners 97 used to bolt vane 90 to cone 61A are applied at spacedintervals along the length of vane 90 from leading end 93 to trailingend 94, and are exemplary of releasable fasteners that releasablyaffix/connect vane 90 to cylindrical exterior 61 of threshing drum 60.Fasteners 97 are releasably secured between vane 90 near lower edge 91of vane 90 and one or more flanges (not shown) formed on, and which forma part of, cone 61A of cylindrical exterior 61, and this is a common andwell-known arrangement for securing helical auger flights to threshingdrums, the details of which are well-known to those having ordinaryskill and will not be discussed in further detail. The releasableattachment of vane 90 to cone 61A of cylindrical exterior withreleasable fasteners 97 allows vane 90 to be removed when needed forrepair, maintenance, or replacement, and this is well-known in the art.

Vane 90 extends outwardly from cone 61A from lower edge 91 at cone 61Aof cylindrical exterior 61 of threshing drum 60 to upper edge 92,leading end 93 is directed forwardly into the threshing direction ofrotation A, and opposed trailing end 94 is directed rearwardly away fromthe threshing direction of rotation A. Outer and inner faces 95 and 96of vane 90 are parallel relative to each other. Outer face 95 of vane 90faces outwardly toward cuttings intake end 62 of threshing drum 60 andaway from the threshing direction of rotation A that is set at aconstant oblique angle Ø1 (FIG. 8) relative to axis X of rotation ofthreshing drum 60. Inner face 96 of vane 90 faces away from cuttingsintake end 62 of threshing drum 60 and into or otherwise toward thethreshing direction of rotation A and is set at constant oblique angleØ2 (FIG. 8) relative to axis X of rotation of threshing drum 60 and thatis also set at a constant oblique angle of Ø3 (FIG. 8) relative to andfacing the threshing direction of rotation A of threshing drum 60, whichallows inner face 96 to encounter and drive cuttings to thresher drum 60in the direction indicated by arrowed line B in FIG. 2 from cuttingsintake end 62 of thresher drum 60 of thresher 55 in response to rotationof threshing drum 60 in the threshing direction of rotation A about axisX of rotation of threshing drum 60. Vane 90 is thus arranged in a helixrelative to threshing drum 60, which means that it extends along a curvetraced on cone 61A by the rotation of threshing drum 60 in the threshingdirection of rotation A about axis X of rotation of threshing drum 60crossing its right sections, i.e., its outer and inner faces 95 and 96,at constant oblique angles Ø1 and Ø2 (FIG. 8), respectively, relative toaxis X of rotation of threshing drum 60. Angles Ø1 and Ø2 are equal toeach other, and are each greater than the constant oblique angle Ø3between inner face 96 of vane 90 and threshing direction of rotation A.In a preferred embodiment angles Ø1 and Ø2 are each 65 degrees, andangle Ø3 is 25 degrees. As vane 90 is arranged in a helix, in responseto rotation of threshing drum 60 in the threshing direction of rotationA about axis X of threshing drum, vane 90 rotates in the threshingdirection of rotation A about axis X of rotation of threshing drum 60leading with leading end 93 and is driven leading end 93 first, andbecause inner face 96 is directed into the threshing direction ofrotation A and faces the threshing direction of rotation A at angle Ø3relative to threshing direction of rotation A and because angle Ø3 isless than angle Ø2 between inner face 96 and axis X of rotation ofthreshing drum 60, inner face 96 angularly helically encounters thecuttings so as to take up and drive the cuttings to thresher drum 60 forthreshing in the direction indicated by arrowed line B in FIG. 2 awayfrom cuttings intake end 62 of thresher drum 60 of thresher 55.

Leading end 93 of vane 90 is characterized in that it has a leading edge100 directed into the threshing direction of rotation A. Leading edge100 is part of leading end 93. Leading edge 100 is elongate and straightand has opposed proximal and distal ends 101 and 102. Proximal end 101is located near cone 61A of cylindrical exterior 61 of threshing drum60, and leading edge 100 of vane 90 of flight 80 extends outwardly fromproximal end 101 near cone 61A of cylindrical exterior 61 of threshingdrum 60 to opposed distal end 102 that meets, and is in contact with,upper edge 92 of vane 90. Leading edge 100 has a length extending fromproximal end 101 of leading edge 101 to distal end 102 of leading edge100. Leading edge 100 of leading end 93 of vane 90 is directed into thethreshing direction of rotation A of threshing drum 60.

Because vane 90 of flight 80 leads with leading end 93, leading end 93,including leading edge 100 of leading end 93, is susceptible to damageand wear in response to impacting cuttings in response to rotation ofthreshing drum 60 about axis X in the threshing direction of rotation A,which requires vane 90 to be repeatedly repaired or replaced to ensureproper or desired operation as leading end 93, including leading edge100, becomes worn and damaged. To solve these problems and to preventpremature wear and damage to leading end 93 of vane 90 of flight 80,including leading edge 100 of vane 90 of flight 80, a sacrificial shieldand wear plate 120 is releasably attached/connected to leading end 93 ofvane 90 of flight 80 so as to form a flight assembly consisting of wearplate 120 releasably or otherwise removably attached/connected to vane90. Wear plate 120 is applied between leading end 93 of vane 90 andthreshing direction of rotation A of threshing drum 60 so as to be in ashielding relationship relative to leading edge 100 of leading end 93 toshield leading end 93, including leading edge 100, of vane 90 of flight80 from impacting cuttings and to also deflect cuttings away fromcuttings intake end 62 of threshing drum 60 and to inner face 96 of vane90 of flight 80 in response to rotation of threshing drum 60 in thethreshing direction of rotation A about axis X of rotation of threshingdrum 60.

Referencing FIGS. 9 and 10 in relevant part, wear plate 120 consists ofa body 121 that is a single, one-piece unitary body formed by machiningor forging or molding, and which is preferably formed of hardened metal,such as preferably conventional hardened steel or cast iron. Body 121has an inner or rear end 122 and an opposed outer or front end 123, anouter surface 124 and an opposed inner surface 125, an inner or loweredge 126 and an opposed outer or upper edge 127 that each extend betweeninner and outer ends 122 and 123. Inner or lower edge 126 is at theinner or lower extremity of body 121, and outer or upper edge 127 is atthe outer or upper extremity of body 121. Body 121 has a width thatextends from inner end 122 to outer end 123, and body 121 has a lengththat extends from inner edge 126 to outer edge 127. Inner end 122 isparallel with respect to outer end 123, and outer end 123 ischaracterized in that it is a narrowed or sharpened cutting edge thatextends along the entire length of body 121 from inner edge 126 to outeredge 127. Like vane 90, body 121 of wear plate 120 is approximately ½-¾of an inch thick.

Body 121 is formed with a transverse bend denoted at 130. Bend 130 islocated at an intermediate location between inner end 122 and outer end123, and extends along the entire length of body 121 from inner edge 126to outer edge 127. Bend 130 is parallel with respect to inner and outerends 122 and 123 of body 121 and divides body 121 into two mainangularly offset sections or extremities, including an inner or rearsection or extremity of body 121 that extends from inner end 122 to bend130 and which is denoted generally at 131, and an outer or front sectionor extremity of body 121 that extends from bend 130 to outer end 123 andwhich is denoted generally at 132. At bend 130, body 121 is bentoutwardly, namely, toward outer surface 124 and away from inner surface125 such that body 121 is outwardly bent toward outer surface 124 andaway from inner surface 125. Front extremity 132 is, thus, bentoutwardly relative to rear extremity 131 such that front extremity 132is outwardly, angularly disposed relative to rear extremity 131. Outerand inner surfaces 124 and 125 extending along rear extremity 131 ofwear plate 120 are parallel relative to each other, and outer and innersurfaces 124 and 125 extending along front extremity 132 of wear plate120 are parallel relative to each other. Outer and inner surfaces 124and 125 are each contiguous, which means that outer surface 124 of rearextremity 131 of wear plate 120 meets and is in contact with outersurface 124 of front extremity 132 of wear plate 120, and inner surface125 of rear extremity 131 of wear plate 120 meets and is in contact withinner surface 125 of front extremity 132 of wear plate 120.

FIGS. 2-8 illustrate wear plate 120 as it would appear installed with orotherwise affixed to leading end 93 of vane 90 so as to form a helicalauger flight assembly according to the principle of the invention. Wearplate 120 is preferably affixed to vane 90 with releasable fasteners 140illustrated in FIGS. 2-7, which are preferably conventional nut-and-boltfasteners. The nut-and-bolt fasteners 140 are spaced apart from oneanother, are applied and secured between wear plate 120 and vane 90 nearleading edge 100 of leading end 93 of vane 90 so as to bolt wear plate120 to vane 90. Fasteners 140 are exemplary of releasable fasteners thatreleasably affix/connect wear plate 120 to vane 90. The releasablyattachment of wear plate 120 to vane 90 with nut-and-bolt fasteners 140allows wear plate 120 to be easily attached and as shown in FIG. 5, andreadily and non-destructively removed for repair, maintenance, orreplacement. According to the principle of the invention, wear plate 120shields leading end 93 and leading edge 100 of vane 90 of flight 80 fromimpacting cuttings and takes the brunt of cuttings impact, and isstructured to deflect cuttings away from the cuttings intake end 62 ofthe threshing drum and to inner face 96 of vane 90 of flight 80 inresponse to rotation of threshing drum 60 in threshing direction ofrotation A about axis X of rotation of threshing drum 60.

In the installation of wear plate 120 onto vane 90 of flight 80 withreference in relevant part to FIGS. 7 and 8, outer surface 124 of rearextremity 131 of body 121 of wear plate 120 near inner end 122 of wearplate 120 extending between bend 130 and inner end 122 of body 121 ofwear plate 120 is positioned alongside of and against so as to be incontact with inner face 96 of vane 90 of flight 80 near leading end 93and leading edge 100 of vane 90 of flight 80. Body 1210 is positionedsuch that inner and outer ends 122 and 123 and bend 130 are parallelwith respect to leading edge 100 of leading end 93 of vane 90, and outersurface 124 of rear extremity 131 of wear plate 120 extends downwardlyalong inner face 96 of vane 90 from inner end 122 of wear plate 120 tobend 130 at leading edge 100 of leading end 94 of vane 90. Bend 130 islocated under leading end 93 edge 100 of leading end 93 of vane 90.

The length of body 121 of wear plate 120 extending from inner edge 126to outer edge 127 of body 121 of wear plate 120 is chosen such that itis 2-5 percent greater than the length of leading edge 100 of leadingend 93 of vane 90 of flight 80 extending from proximal end 101 ofleading edge 100 to distal end 102 of leading edge 100. Body 121 of wearplate 120 is further specifically positioned so as to locate inner edge126 of body 121 of wear plate 120 at proximal end 101 of leading edge100 of leading end 93 of vane 90 and this is clearly shown in FIG. 7.And so with wear plate 120 positioned or otherwise oriented such thatinner and outer ends 122 and 123 and bend 130 of wear plate 120 areparallel with respect to leading edge 100 of leading end 93 of vane 90,body 121 of wear plate 120 thus extends along the entire length ofleading edge 100 of leading end 93 of vane 90 from inner edge 126 ofwear plate at proximal end 101 of leading edge 100 of vane 90, to outeredge 127 of wear plate 120 at distal end 102 of leading edge 100 ofleading end 93 of vane 93. Moreover, because the length of body 121 ofwear plate 120 extending from inner edge 126 to outer edge 127 of body121 of wear plate 120 is chosen such that it is greater than the lengthof leading edge 100 of leading end 93 of vane 90 of flight 80 extendingfrom proximal end 101 of leading edge 100 to distal end 102 of leadingedge 100, body 121 of wear plate 120 extends outwardly from or otherwiseoutboard of distal end 102 of leading edge 100 of leading end 93 of vane90 to outer edge 127 of wear plate 120, which projects outwardly from orotherwise outboard of distal end 102 of leading edge 100 of leading end93 of vane 90 and also upper edge 92 of vane 90 as shown in FIG. 7.

According to the described positioning of wear plate 120 relative to andalong leading end 93 of vane 90 of flight 80, wear plate 120 extendsacross leading end 93 of vane 90 across the entire length of leadingedge 100 and leading end 93 of vane 90 of flight 80 from proximal end101 end of leading edge 100 to distal end 102 of leading edge 100, andfront extremity 132 of body 121 of wear plate 120 extends away from bend130 of body 121 of wear plate 120 and leading edge 100 of leading end 93of vane 90 of flight 90 to outer end 123 of body 121 of wear plate 120.This installation of wear plate 120 locates wear plate 120 in ashielding relationship, which is between leading end 93 and leading edge100 of vane 90 and threshing direction of rotation A causing innersurface 125 of wear plate 120 extending along inner and outer sections131 and 132 and facing into threshing direction of rotation A to takethe brunt of cuttings impact in response to rotation of threshing drum60 in the threshing direction of rotation A about axis X of threshingdrum 60 and thereby protect and shield leading end 93 and leading edge100 of vane 90 from impacting cuttings in response to rotation ofthreshing drum 60 in the threshing direction of rotation A about axis Xof threshing drum 60. Because body 121 is bent outwardly at bend 130toward outer surface 124 of wear plate 120 and away from inner surface125 of wear plate 120 such that front extremity 132 of wear plate 120 isbent outward relative to rear extremity 131 of wear plate 120 asdescribed above, because outer surface 124 of rear extremity 131 of body121 of wear plate 120 near inner end 122 of wear plate 120 extendingbetween bend 130 and inner end 122 of body 121 of wear plate 120 ispositioned alongside of and against so as to be in contact with innerface 96 of vane 90 of flight 80 near leading end 93 and leading edge 100of vane 90 of flight 80, because body 1210 is positioned such that innerand outer ends 122 and 123 and bend 130 are parallel with respect toleading edge 100 of leading end 93 of vane 90 and because outer surface124 of rear extremity 131 of wear plate 120 extends downwardly alonginner face 96 of vane 90 from inner end 122 of wear plate 120 to bend130, which is located under and outboard of leading edge 100 of leadingend 93 of vane 90, front extremity 132 of wear plate 120 extendsoutwardly from leading edge 100 of leading end 92 of vane 90, is locatedahead of or otherwise outboard of leading edge 100 of leading end 93 ofvane 90, and is angled away from leading end 93 and from leading edge100 of vane 90 and also from outer and inner faces 95 and 96 of vane 90toward cuttings intake end 62 of threshing drum 60 as shown in FIG. 2.With this shielding positioning of wear plate 120 relative to leadingend 93 of vane 90, wear plate 120 is then releasably affixed to vane 90via bolting with releasable fasteners 140, which are preferablyconventional nut-and-bolt fasteners as previously described. Thenut-and-bolt fasteners 140 used to bolt wear plate 120 to vane 90 arespaced apart from one another, are secured between rear extremity 131 ofwear plate 120 and vane 90 near leading edge 100 of leading end 93 ofvane 90, and are exemplary of releasable fasteners that releasably affixwear plate 120 to vane 90. Again, the releasably attachment of wearplate 120 to vane 90 with fasteners 140 allows wear plate 120 to benon-destructively removed for repair, maintenance, or replacement.

Referencing FIG. 6, vane 90 is formed with fastener openings 144 nearleading edge 100 of leading end 93 of vane 90, and rear extremity 131 ofwear plate 120 is formed with corresponding fastener openings 145between bend 130 and inner end 122. Fastener openings 145 of wear plate120 correspond to and align with fastener openings 144 of vane 90, whichconcurrently receive fasteners 140 to releasably secure wear plate 120to vane 90. Fastener openings 145 formed in wear plate 120 correspond tofastener openings formed in vane 90 such that when aligned and fittedwith fasteners 140 releasably affixing wear plate 120 to vane 90 producethe specific positioning of wear plate 120 relative to vane 90 asdiscussed in detail above.

Referencing FIGS. 2 and 8 in relevant part, with wear plate 120installed and affixed in place with vane 90 as discussed in detailabove, front extremity 132 and outer and inner surfaces 124 and 125thereof extend angularly outwardly from leading edge 100 of leading end93 of vane 90 to outer end 123 of wear plate 120 toward cuttings intakeend 62 of threshing drum 60 as shown in FIG. 2. Outer surface 124 offront extremity 132 faces outwardly toward cuttings intake end 62 ofthreshing drum 60 and away from the threshing direction of rotation Aand is set at a constant oblique angle Ø4 relative to axis X of rotationof threshing drum 60. Inner surface 125 of front extremity 132 facesaway from cuttings intake end 62 of threshing drum 60 and faces into thethreshing direction of rotation A and is set at a constant oblique angleØ5 relative to axis X of rotation of threshing drum 60 and is also setat a constant oblique angle Ø6 relative to threshing direction ofrotation A. Angles Ø4 and Ø5 are equal to one another in this example,are each less than each of angles Ø1 and Ø2 in this example, and areeach greater than angle Ø3 and also angle Ø6 in this example. Angle Ø6between inner surface 125 of front extremity 132 and threshing directionof rotation A is greater than angle Ø3 between inner face 96 of vane 90and threshing direction of rotation A and is less than angles Ø1 and Ø2,and inner surface 125 of front extremity 132 of wear plate 120 is, andfunctions, as a cuttings deflecting inner surface of wear plate 120 fornot only shielding leading edge 100 and leading end 93 of vane 90 fromimpacting cuttings in response to rotation of threshing drum about axisX in the threshing direction of rotation A, but also deflecting cuttingsalong inner surface 125 of lower section 132 of wear plate 120 fromthreshing drum 60 in the direction indicated by arrowed line B in FIG. 2toward inner face 96 of vane 90 in response to rotation of threshingdrum 60 in the threshing direction of rotation A placing the cuttings inthe path of the oncoming inner face 96 of vane 90 for allowing thecuttings to be driven by and along inner face 96 of vane 90 to threshingdrum 60 of thresher 55 for threshing in the direction of arrowed line Bin FIG. 2. In a preferred embodiment as explained above, angles Ø1 andØ2 are each 65 degrees, and angle Ø3 is 25 degrees. Further to apreferred embodiment, angles Ø4 and Ø5 are each 55 degrees, and angle Ø6is 35 degrees.

It is to be emphasized that in response to rotation of threshing drum 60in the threshing direction of rotation A about axis X of threshing drum60, flight 90 leads with wear plate 120 releasably affixed to leadingend 93 shielding and protecting leading end 93 and leading edge 100 ofvane 90 from impacting cuttings, in which outer end 123 of wear plate120 cuts into the cuttings so as to cut them further, inner surface 125of front extremity 132 of wear plate 120 deflects cuttings to inner face96 of flight 90 for driving the cuttings to thresher drum 60 forthreshing in the direction of arrowed line B in FIG. 2. Furthermore,because inner surface 125 of wear plate 120 is directed into thethreshing direction of rotation A of threshing drum 60, the entirety ofinner surface 125 of wear plate 120 extending from inner end 122 of wearplate 120 to outer end 123 of wear plate takes the full brunt ofcuttings impact protecting leading end 93 and leading edge 100 of vane90 from wear and damage. Should wear plate 120 become damaged or worn,it may be easily removed for repair or replacement without having toreplace vane 90 of flight 80.

As seen in FIGS. 2-5, flights 80 and 81 are arranged leading end 93 withattached wear plate 120 to trailing end 94, and are offset relative toeach other and diametrically oppose one another. Flights 80 and 81operate identically to one another as fully described in connection withflight 80, and flights 80 and 81 are sized to fully encircle cone 61A ofcylindrical exterior 61 of threshing drum causing them to cooperate toform a cuttings intake or driving auger system or assembly that forciblyrotates through the cuttings applied to cuttings intake end 62 ofthresher drum 60 of thresher 55 and forcibly takes up and drives thecuttings to thresher drum 60 of thresher 55 in the direction of arrowedline B in FIG. 2 for threshing in response to rotation of threshing drum60 in the threshing direction of rotation A about axis X of threshingdrum 60. Although threshing drum 60 incorporates two flights 80 and 81,more can be used if so desired without departing from the invention.

Reference is now directed to FIG. 11, which is a perspective view of athresher 200 incorporating helical auger flight assemblies 201constructed and arranged in accordance with the principle of theinvention. Helical auger flight assemblies 201 each include an alternateembodiment of a sacrificial shield and wear plate 202 releasablyconnected/affixed to an alternate embodiment of a helical auger flight204. In common with previously-described thresher 55, thresher 200shares threshing drum 60, cylindrical exterior 61, and cuttings intakeend 62, and is operable for threshing crop cuttings to form threshings.As described in conjunction with thresher 55, identically thresher 200is mounted within the combine harvester (not shown) for rotation androtates relative to a thresher concave (not shown) in threshingdirection of rotation generally indicated by arcuate arrowed line Aabout axis X of rotation of thresher 200 and threshes the cuttings alonga thresher concave (not shown) separating the grains from the chaff toform threshings, namely, the chaff and the separated grains.Specifically, cuttings are applied to cuttings intake end 62 of thresher200. Cuttings intake end 62 of thresher 200 is considered an upstreamend of thresher 200. As thresher 200 rotates in the threshing directionof rotation A about axis X of rotation of thresher 200 and threshes thecuttings to form threshings, the threshings move along thresher 200 inthe direction of arrowed line B from cuttings intake end 62 of thresher200 to a downstream location or end of thresher 200, the grains formedby the threshing action of thresher 200 fall through sieves into acollection tank inside the combine harvester, which is periodicallyemptied, and the chaff is ejected onto the field from the combineharvester.

With threshing drum 60 of thresher 200 mounted for rotation in theconventional manner in threshing direction of rotation A about axis X ofrotation of threshing drum 60 of thresher 200, threshing drum 60 rotatesabout axis X of rotation and axis X of rotation is not only the axis ofrotation of thresher 200 but also the axis of rotation of threshing drum60. Axis X of rotation is referred to interchangeably as being the axisof rotation of thresher 200 and also threshing drum 60 of thresher 200.Axis X of rotation X is perpendicular relative to the threshingdirection of rotation A of threshing drum 60 as described in connectionwith thresher 55. A population of conventional threshing drum threshingrasps or bars 210 is affixed to cylindrical exterior 61 of threshingdrum 60. Cylindrical exterior 61 has frusto-conical segment or cone 61Aextending outwardly to cuttings intake end 62, which is the narrowed endof cone 61A. In the present embodiment, there are two helical augerflight assemblies 201A and 201B, which are affixed to cone 61A ofcylindrical exterior 61 of threshing drum 60 near cuttings intake end 62of threshing drum 60 so as to be diametrically opposed in relation toone another. Arrowed line A indicates the direction of rotation ofthreshing drum 60 about axis X of rotation of threshing drum 60, whichis the direction of rotation/travel of threshing rasps or bars 210 andalso helical auger flight assemblies 201A and 201B affixed to threshingdrum 60.

In response to rotation of threshing drum 60 of thresher 200 in thethreshing direction of rotation A about axis X of rotation, threshingrasps or bars 210 and helical auger flights 80 are driven so as torotate in the threshing direction of rotation A about axis X of rotationof thresher 200. Threshing rasps or bars 210 are operable for threshinga crop applied between cylindrical exterior 61 of threshing drum 60 andthe thresher concave (not shown) in response to rotation of threshingdrum 60 in the threshing direction of rotation A. And so in response torotation of threshing drum 60 in the threshing direction rotation Aabout axis X of threshing drum 60, threshing bars 210 thresh the cropcuttings between cylindrical exterior 61 and the concave separating thegrains from the chaff to form threshings, namely, the chaff and theseparated grains. The threshings are moved along the rotating thresher200 in a direction indicated generally by arrowed line B from cuttingsintake end 62 of threshing drum 60 of thresher 200 to the downstreamlocation or end of thresher drum 60 of thresher 200, and the threshingsare applied to the sieves and to the collection tank of the combine,whereby the grains fall through the sieves into the collection tankinside the combine harvester, which is periodically emptied, such asinto tractors that drive alongside, while a conveyor takes up andconveys the chaff to an ejection spout for ejection onto the field fromthe combine harvester. As threshing drum 60 rotates in the threshingdirection of rotation A about axis X of threshing drum 60, the cuttingsare applied to cuttings intake end 62 of thresher drum 60 of thresher200 and helical auger flight assemblies 201A and 201B forcibly rotatethrough the cuttings applied to cuttings intake end 62 of thresher drum60 of thresher 200 and interact with and drive the cuttings to thresherdrum 60 for threshing in the direction indicated by arrowed line B.Helical auger flight assemblies 201A and 201B cooperate together as acuttings intake or driving auger system or assembly that receives andapplies cuttings to thresher drum 60 for threshing from cuttings intakeend 62.

Helical auger flight assemblies 201A and 201B are identical to oneanother in every respect, and thresher 200 is configured with twoopposed helical auger flight assemblies 201A and 201B in the presentembodiment that together cooperate as a cuttings intake or driving augersystem or assembly operable for picking up and driving cuttings in thedirection of arrowed line B to thresher drum 60 of thresher 200 forthreshing. Because helical auger flight assemblies 201A and 201B areidentical to one another, the details of helical auger flight assembly201A will be discussed in detail, with the understanding that theensuing discussion of helical auger flight assembly 201A applies equallyto helical auger flight assembly 201B. Also, because helical augerflight assemblies 201A and 201B are identical, they are referenced withcommon reference characters as is appropriate in conjunction with thisspecification.

Referencing FIGS. 11-17 in relevant part, helical auger flight assembly201A consists of wear plate 202 and helical auger flight 204. Helicalauger flight 204 is a vane 220. Like vane 90, vane 220 identicallyconsists of a single, unitary body fashioned of steel or other strong,rugged metal, and which is a thin, curved body that is made or otherwisecaused to rotate about axis X in the threshing direction of rotation Ain response to rotation of threshing drum 60 in the threshing directionof rotation A about axis X being the axis of rotation of threshing drum60. Like vane 90, vane 220 is thin in that it is approximately ½-¾ of aninch thick. Like vane 90, vane 220 has arcuate or curvilinear inner orlower edge 221 and an opposed arcuate or curvilinear outer or upper edge222, a forward or leading extremity or end 223 an opposed rearward ortrailing extremity or end 224, an outer face 225 and an opposed innerface 226, which is a cuttings driving face of vane 220 of flight 204.Vane 220 is elongate in that it has a length extending from leadingextremity 223 to trailing extremity 224, and vane 220 has a widthextending from lower edge 221 to upper edge 222. The width of vane 90extending between inner edge 221 and outer edge 222 is not constant andhas its greatest dimension at leading extremity 223 of vane 220 and itsleast dimension at trailing extremity 224 of vane 220. Furthermore, thewidth of vane 220 between inner edge 221 of vane 220 and outer edge 222of vane 220 gradually tapers, i.e. becomes gradually smaller, fromleading extremity 223 of vane 220 to trailing extremity 224 of vane 220.These features of vane 220 are identical to that of vane 90.

Like vane 90, vane 220 is affixed to cone 61A of cylindrical exterior 61near inner edge 221. Vane 220 is preferably releasably connected/affixedto cone 61A of cylindrical exterior 61 near lower edge 91 withreleasable fasteners 97, which are preferably conventional nut-and-boltfasteners that bolt vane 220 to cone 61A. The nut-and-bolt fasteners 97are applied at spaced intervals along the length of vane 220 fromleading extremity 223 to trailing extremity 224, and are exemplary ofreleasable fasteners that releasably connect/affix vane 220 tocylindrical exterior 61 of threshing drum 60 via bolting. Fasteners 97are releasably secured between vane 220 near inner edge 221 of vane 220and one or more flanges formed on, and which form a part of, cone 61A ofcylindrical exterior 61, and again this is a common and well-knownarrangement for securing helical auger flights to threshing drums, thedetails of which are well-known to those having ordinary skill and arenot discussed. The releasable attachment of vane 220 to cone 61A ofcylindrical exterior 61 of threshing drum 60 with releasable fasteners97 releasably connects vane 220 to cone 61A of cylindrical exterior ofthreshing drum 60 so as to allow vane 220 to be readily andnon-destructively removed for repair, maintenance, or replacement, andthis is well-known in the art as discussed above in connection with vane90.

The orientation of vane 220 releasably connected to cone 61A isidentical to that of the orientation of vane 90 releasably connected tocone 61A as discussed in detail above and will now be summarized. Vane220 extends outwardly from cone 61A from inner edge 221 at cone 61A ofcylindrical exterior 61 of threshing drum 60 to outer edge 222, leadingextremity 223 is directed forwardly into the threshing direction ofrotation A, and opposed trailing extremity 224 is directed rearwardlyaway from the threshing direction of rotation A, and this is bestillustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12. Outer and inner faces 225 and 226 ofvane 220 are parallel relative to each other. The described angles shownin FIG. 8 in connection with the descriptions of vane 90 applyidentically to vane 220. Referencing the angles shown in FIG. 8, outerface 225 of vane 220 faces outwardly toward cuttings intake end 62 ofthreshing drum 60 and away from the threshing direction of rotation Athat is set at constant oblique angle Ø1 relative to axis X of rotationof threshing drum 60. Inner face 226 of vane 220 faces away fromcuttings intake end 62 of threshing drum 60 and into or otherwise towardthe threshing direction of rotation A and is set at constant obliqueangle Ø2 relative to axis X of rotation of threshing drum 60 and that isalso set at constant oblique angle Ø3 relative to and facing thethreshing direction of rotation A of threshing drum 60, which allowsinner face 226 to encounter and drive cuttings to thresher drum 60 inthe direction indicated by arrowed line B in FIG. 11 from cuttingsintake end 62 of thresher drum 60 of thresher 200 in response torotation of threshing drum 60 in the threshing direction of rotation Aabout axis X of rotation of threshing drum 60. Like vane 90, vane 220 isthus arranged in the helix relative to threshing drum 60, which meansthat it extends along a curve traced on cone 61A by the rotation ofthreshing drum 60 in the threshing direction of rotation A about axis Xof rotation of threshing drum 60 crossing its right sections, i.e., itsouter and inner faces 225 and 226, at constant oblique angles, namely,angles Ø1 and Ø2, relative to axis X of rotation of threshing drum 60.Angles Ø1 and Ø2 in relation to vane 90 in FIG. 8 are equal to eachother and are each greater than the constant oblique angle Ø3, and thisalso applies to vane 220. Furthermore, the dimension of angles Ø1 and Ø2in connection with vane 90 also apply to vane 220. As vane 220 isarranged in a helix, in response to rotation of threshing drum 60 in thethreshing direction of rotation A about axis X of threshing drum, vane220 rotates in the threshing direction of rotation A about axis X ofrotation of threshing drum 60 leading with leading extremity 223 and isdriven leading extremity 223 first, and because inner face 226 isdirected into the threshing direction of rotation A and faces thethreshing direction of rotation A at angle Ø3 relative to threshingdirection of rotation A and because angle Ø3 is less than angle Ø2between inner face 226 and axis X of rotation of threshing drum 60,inner face 226 angularly helically encounters the cuttings so as to takeup and drive the cuttings to thresher drum 60 for threshing in thedirection indicated by arrowed line B in FIG. 11 away from cuttingsintake end 62 of thresher drum 60 of thresher 200.

As best seen in FIG. 15, leading extremity 223 of vane 220 ischaracterized in that it has a leading edge 230 and a prominence 231each directed into the threshing direction of rotation A. Leading edge230 and prominence 231 are parts of leading extremity 223. According tothe principle of the invention, prominence 231 has an inner end 232 andan opposed outer end 233 and is located near cone 61A of cylindricalexterior 61 of threshing drum 60. Leading edge 230 is elongate andstraight and extends from outer edge 222 of vane 220 in the direction ofprominence 231 and inner edge 221 to inner end 232 of prominence 231 andit is at this location where leading edge 230 and prominence 231intersect. Prominence 231 is integral with leading edge 230 and extendsoutward from leading edge 230 of leading extremity 223 into thethreshing direction of rotation A from inner end 232 of prominence 231to outer end 233 of prominence 231. Outer end 233 has an upturned jut235 that terminates distally at a tip 236. Jut 235 is upturned away frominner edge 221 of vane 220 in the direction of outer edge 222 of vane220 and has a contact surface 237 that extends between outer end 233 ofprominence 231 and tip 236 from outer end 233 to tip 236. Contactsurface 237 faces upwardly in the direction of outer edge 222 of vane220 and is angled inwardly toward leading edge 230. Outer end 233 ofprominence 231 terminates distally with a forward edge 239 that extendsbetween inner edge 221 of vane 220 and tip 236. Leading edge 230 of vane220 extends outwardly from inner end 232 of prominence 231 near cone 61Aof cylindrical exterior 61 of threshing drum 60 to outer edge 222 ofvane 220. Leading edge 230 has a length that extends from inner end 232of prominence 231 to outer edge 222 of vane 220.

Leading edge 230 and prominence 231 of leading extremity 223 end 93 ofvane 220 are directed into the threshing direction of rotation A ofthreshing drum 60. Because vane 220 of flight 80 leads with leadingextremity 223, leading extremity 223, including leading edge 230 ofleading extremity 223, is susceptible to damage and wear in response toimpacting cuttings in response to rotation of threshing drum 60 aboutaxis X in the threshing direction of rotation A, which requires vane 220to be repeatedly repaired or replaced to ensure proper or desiredoperation as leading extremity 223, including leading edge 230, becomesworn and damaged. To solve these problems and to prevent premature wearand damage to leading extremity 223 of vane 220 of flight 204 accordingto this embodiment, including leading edge 230 of vane 220 of flight204, a sacrificial shield and wear plate 202 is releasablyattached/connected to leading extremity 223 of vane 220 of flight 80 soas to form helical flight assembly 201A consisting of wear plate 202releasably or otherwise removably attached/connected to vane 220. Incommon with wear plate 120 discussed in detail above, wear plate 202 isapplied between leading extremity 223 of vane 220 and threshingdirection of rotation A of threshing drum 60 so as to be in a shieldingrelationship relative to leading edge 230 of leading extremity 223 toshield leading extremity 223, including leading edge 230, of vane 220 offlight 204 from impacting cuttings and to also deflect cuttings awayfrom cuttings intake end 62 of threshing drum 60 and to inner face 226of vane 220 of flight 204 in response to rotation of threshing drum 60in the threshing direction of rotation A about axis X of rotation ofthreshing drum 60.

Referencing FIGS. 11-18 in relevant part, like wear plate 120, wearplate 202 consists of body 251 that is a single, one-piece unitary bodyformed by machining or forging or molding, and which is preferablyformed of hardened metal, such as preferably conventional hardened steelor cast iron. Body 251 has an inner or rear end 252 and an opposed outeror front end 253 formed with front edge 253A and a nose 264 havingcontact surface 264A, an outer surface 254 and an opposed inner surface255, an inner or lower edge 256 and an opposed outer or upper edge 257that each extend between inner and outer ends 252 and 253, and, morespecifically, between inner end 252 and front edge 253A. Inner or loweredge 256 is at the inner or lower extremity of body 251, and outer orupper edge 257 is at the outer or upper extremity of body 251. Body 251has a width that extends from inner end 252 to outer end 253, and body251 has a length that extends from inner edge 256 to outer edge 257.Inner end 252 is parallel with respect to outer end 253, and outer end253 is characterized in that it includes front edge 253A. Front edge253A is narrowed and sharpened so as to be a cutting edge that extendsalong the entire length of body 251 from inner edge 256 and along nose264 to outer edge 257. Body 251 of wear plate 202 is approximately ½-¾of an inch thick.

Body 251 is formed with a transverse bend denoted at 260 in FIGS. 14,14A, and 14B Like bend 130 of wear plate 12, bend 260 is located betweeninner end 252 and outer end 253, and extends along the entire length ofbody 251 from inner edge 256 at the outer extremity of body 251 of wearplate 202 to outer edge 257 at the inner extremity of body 251 of wearplate 202. Bend 260 is parallel with respect to inner and outer ends 252and 253 of body 251 and divides body 251 into two angularly offsetsections or extremities like that of wear plate 120, including an inneror rear section or extremity of body 251 that extends from inner end 252to bend 260 and which is denoted generally at 261, and an outer or frontsection or extremity of body 251 that extends from bend 260 to outer end253 and which is denoted generally at 262. Front extremity 262 includesfront edge 253A and additionally nose 264, and front extremity 262extends from the outer extremity at outer edge 257 and along nose 264 tothe inner extremity at inner edge 256 of wear plate 202. Nose 264 is adownturned extension in the nature of a stub or nubbin in the lowerextremity of wear plate 202 at the front extremity 261 of wear plate202. Nose 264 terminates distally at contact surface 264A.

At bend 260 body 251 is bent outwardly, namely, toward outer surface 254and away from inner surface 255 such that body 251 is outwardly benttoward outer surface 254 and away from inner surface 255. Frontextremity 262 is, thus, bent outwardly relative to rear extremity 261such that front extremity 262 is outwardly, angularly disposed relativeto rear extremity 261. Like wear plate 120, outer and inner surfaces 254and 255 extending along rear extremity 261 of wear plate 202 areparallel relative to each other, and outer and inner surfaces 254 and255 extending along front extremity 262 of wear plate 202 are parallelrelative to each other. Outer and inner surfaces 254 and 255 are eachcontiguous, which means that outer surface 254 of rear extremity 261 ofwear plate 202 meets and is in contact with outer surface 254 of frontextremity 262 of wear plate 202, and inner surface 255 of rear extremity261 of wear plate 202 meets and is in contact with inner surface 255 offront extremity 262 of wear plate 202.

FIGS. 11, 12, 13, 16 and 18 illustrate wear plate 202 as it would appearinstalled with or otherwise affixed to leading extremity 223 of vane 220so as to form helical auger flight assembly 201A according to theprinciple of the invention. FIG. 13 shows helical auger flight assembly201A as it would appear assembled in preparation for installation ontothresher drum 60. Referencing FIGS. 11, 12, 13, 16 and 18 in relevantpart, wear plate 202 is preferably affixed to vane 220 with releasablefasteners 140, which are preferably conventional nut-and-bolt fasteners.The nut-and-bolt fasteners 140 that bolt wear plate 202 to leadingextremity 223 are spaced apart from one another, are applied and securedbetween wear plate 202 and vane 220 near leading edge 230 of leadingextremity 223 of vane 220 so as to bolt wear plate 202 to vane 220.Fasteners 140 are exemplary of releasable fasteners that releasablyaffix/connect wear plate 202 to vane 220. The releasably attachment ofwear plate 202 to vane 220 with nut-and-bolt fasteners 140 allows wearplate 202 to be easily attached and readily removed non-destructivelyfor repair, maintenance, or replacement. According to the principle ofthe invention, wear plate 202 shields leading extremity 223 and leadingedge 230 of vane 220 of flight 80 from impacting cuttings like just thatof wear plate 120 so as to take the brunt of cuttings impact, and isstructured just like that of wear plate 120 to deflect cuttings awayfrom the cuttings intake end 62 of the threshing drum and to inner face96 of vane 220 of flight 80 in response to rotation of threshing drum 60in threshing direction of rotation A about axis X of rotation ofthreshing drum 60.

In the installation of wear plate 202 onto vane 220 of flight 204, outersurface 254 of rear extremity 261 of body 251 of wear plate 202 nearinner end 252 of wear plate 202 extending between bend 260 and inner end252 of body 251 of wear plate 202 is positioned alongside of and againstso as to be in contact with inner face 226 of vane 220 of flight 204near leading extremity 223 and leading edge 230 of vane 220 of flight204. FIG. 14A is a rear elevation view illustrating wear plate 202 as itwould appear applied to and against inner face 226 of vane 220 of flight204 near leading extremity 223 in preparation for being releasablyconnected to vane 220 via bolting. Wear plate 202 body 251 is positionedsuch that inner and outer ends 252 and 253 and bend 260 are parallelwith respect to leading edge 230 of leading extremity 223 of vane 220,and outer surface 254 of rear extremity 261 of wear plate 202 extendsdownwardly along inner face 226 of vane 220 from inner end 252 of wearplate 202 to bend 260 at leading edge 230 of leading extremity 224 ofvane 220. Bend 260 is located under leading extremity 223 edge 230 ofleading extremity 223 of vane 220.

And so with wear plate 202 positioned or otherwise oriented such thatinner and outer ends 252 and 253 and bend 260 of wear plate 202 areparallel with respect to leading edge 230 of leading extremity 223 ofvane 220, body 251 of wear plate 202 thus extends along the length ofleading edge 230 of leading extremity 223 of vane 220 from outer edge257 of wear plate 202 at outer edge 221 of flight 204 to inner edge 256of wear plate 202 at inner end 232 of prominence 231. Front extremity262 extends forwardly of leading edge 230 of flight 204 to front edge253A so as to shield leading edge 230 of flight 204 from impactingcuttings and for deflecting cuttings rearwardly away from cuttingsintake end 62 of threshing drum 60 in response to rotation of threshingdrum 60 in the threshing direction of rotation A. Contact surface 264Aof nose 264 is, in turn, in direct contact against contact surface 237of jut 235, and forward edge 239 of prominence 231 and front edge 253Aof wear plate 202 converge at tip 236 of jut 235 and nose 264 of wearplate 202, respectively, where the nose 264 and the jut 235 intersect.

According to the described positioning of wear plate 202 relative to andalong leading extremity 223 of vane 220 of flight 204, wear plate 202extends across leading extremity 223 of vane 220 across the length ofleading edge 230 and leading extremity 223 of vane 220 of flight 204from outer edge 222 of flight 204 to inner end 232 of prominence 231,and front extremity 262 of body 251 of wear plate 202 extends forwardaway from bend 260 of body 251 of wear plate 202 and leading edge 230 ofleading extremity 223 of vane 220 of flight 220 to outer end 253 of body251 of wear plate 202 terminating distally with front edge 253A, andcontact surface 264A of nose 264 is in direct contact against contactsurface 237 of jut 235, whereby forward edge 239 of prominence 231 andfront edge 253A of wear plate 202 converge at tip 236 of jut 235 andnose 264 of wear plate 202, respectively, where the nose 264 and the jut235 intersect. This installation of wear plate 202 locates wear plate202 in a shielding relationship, which is between leading extremity 223and leading edge 230 of vane 220 and threshing direction of rotation Acausing inner surface 255 of wear plate 202 extending along trailing andleading extremities 261 and 262 and facing into threshing direction ofrotation A to take the brunt of cuttings impact in response to rotationof threshing drum 60 in the threshing direction of rotation A about axisX of threshing drum 60 and thereby protect and shield leading extremity223 and leading edge 230 of vane 220 from impacting cuttings in responseto rotation of threshing drum 60 in the threshing direction of rotationA about axis X of threshing drum 60. Because body 251 is bent outwardlyat bend 260 toward outer surface 254 of wear plate 202 and away frominner surface 255 of wear plate 202 such that front extremity 262 ofwear plate 202 is bent outward relative to rear extremity 261 of wearplate 202 as described above, because outer surface 254 of rearextremity 261 of body 251 of wear plate 202 near inner end 252 of wearplate 202 extending between bend 260 and inner end 252 of body 251 ofwear plate 202 is positioned alongside of and against so as to be incontact with inner face 96 of vane 220 of flight 204 near leadingextremity 223 and leading edge 230 of vane 220 of flight 204, becausebody 251 of wear plate 202 is positioned such that inner and outer ends252 and 253 and bend 260 are parallel with respect to leading edge 230of leading extremity 223 of vane 220 and because outer surface 254 ofrear extremity 261 of wear plate 202 extends downwardly along inner face96 of vane 220 from inner end 252 of wear plate 202 to bend 260, whichis located under and outboard of leading edge 230 of leading extremity223 of vane 220, front extremity 262 of wear plate 202 extends outwardlyfrom leading edge 230 of leading end 92 of vane 220 from outer edge 222of vane 220 to inner end 232 of prominence 231, is located ahead of orotherwise outboard of leading edge 230 of leading extremity 223 of vane220, and is angled away from leading extremity 223 and from leading edge230 of vane 220 and also from outer and inner faces 225 and 226 of vane220 toward cuttings intake end 62 of threshing drum 60. The contactbetween nose 264 and jut 235 and the positioning of wear plate 202relative to prominence 231 relates the forward edge 239 of prominence231 to the front edge 253A so as to align forward edge 239 of prominence231 with front edge 253A of wear plate 202, which makes forward edge 239an extension of front edge 253A and, in turn, which makes front edge253A an extension of forward edge 239. This cooperation between forwardedge 239 of prominence 231 of vane 220 and front edge 253A of wear plate202 produces continuity between front edge 253A and forward edge 239,which promotes shielding of leading edge 223A of leading extremity 223,promotes deflection of crop material in the direction of arrowed line Bas explained above, and prevent crop material from wrapping and cloggingat the intersection of nose 264 and prominence 235.

With this shielding positioning of wear plate 202 relative to leadingextremity 223 of vane 220, wear plate 202 is then releasably affixed tovane 220 via bolting with releasable fasteners 140, which are preferablyconventional nut-and-bolt fasteners as previously described. Thenut-and-bolt fasteners 140 used to bolt wear plate 202 to vane 220 arespaced apart from one another, are secured between rear extremity 261 ofwear plate 202 and vane 220 near leading edge 230 of leading extremity223 of vane 220, and are exemplary of releasable fasteners thatreleasably connect/affix wear plate 202 to vane 220. Again, thereleasably attachment of wear plate 202 to vane 220 with fasteners 140allows wear plate 202 to be removed for repair, maintenance, orreplacement.

Referencing FIG. 14, leading extremity 223 of vane 220 is formed with aset fastener openings 270 near leading edge 230, and rear extremity 261of wear plate 202 is formed with corresponding set fastener openings 275between bend 260 and inner end 252. Fastener openings 275 of wear plate202 correspond to and align with fastener openings 270 of vane 220,which concurrently receive fasteners 140 to releasably secure wear plate202 to vane 220. Fastener openings 275 formed in wear plate 202correspond to fastener openings 270 formed in vane 220 such that whenaligned and fitted with fasteners 140 releasably affixing wear plate 202to vane 220 produce the specific positioning of wear plate 202 relativeto vane 220 as discussed in detail above.

As seen in FIG. 15, fastener openings 270 through vane 220 are eachelongate in a direction that is parallel with respect to contact surfaceof jut 25. In other words, fastener openings 270 are elongate andparallel relative to each other and to contact surface 237 of jut 25.This allows wear plate 202 to be adjusted in reciprocal directions inthe directions of double arrowed line D, which is the direction fasteneropenings 270 are each elongate in, so as to bring front edge 253A frontedge 253A of wear plate 202 into alignment with forward edge 239 ofprominence 251. Should front edge 253A of wear plate 202 be worn downafter prolonged use, such as to dotted wear line 280 denoted in FIG. 16,bringing front edge 253A of wear plate 202 out of alignment with respectto forward edge 239 of prominence 231, fasteners 140 may be loosened topermit wear plate 202 to be adjusted/moved outwardly in the direction ofarrowed line E in FIG. 18 along the lengths of fastener openings 270 soas to bring the worn front edge 253A of wear plate 202 back intoalignment with forward edge 239 of prominence 231 as is illustrated inFIG. 18. The parallel relationship between contact surface 237 of jut235 of fastener openings 270 ensures that contact surface 264A of nose264 remains in contact against contact surface 237 of jut 235 during thedescribed adjustment of wear plate 202. And so FIG. 18 is a view similarto that of FIG. 16 illustrating wear plate 202 as it would appear withfront edge 253A worn down as a result of prolonged use and affixed toflight 204 in an adjusted position via fastener openings 270 tocompensate for the illustrated wear so as to bring front edge 253A ofwear plate 202 back into alignment with forward edge 239 of prominence231.

The described angles shown in FIG. 8 in connection with the descriptionsof wear plate 120 apply identically to wear plate 202. Referencing FIG.11, and also the angles shown in FIG. 8 in connection with wear plate120, with wear plate 202 installed and affixed in place with vane 220 asdiscussed in detail above, front extremity 262 and outer and innersurfaces 254 and 255 thereof extend angularly outwardly from leadingedge 230 of leading extremity 223 of vane 220 to outer end 253 of wearplate 202 toward cuttings intake end 62 of threshing drum 60. Outersurface 254 of front extremity 262 faces outwardly toward cuttingsintake end 62 of threshing drum 60 and away from the threshing directionof rotation A and is set at constant oblique angle Ø4 relative to axis Xof rotation of threshing drum 60 like that of wear plate 120. Innersurface 255 of front extremity 262 faces away from cuttings intake end62 of threshing drum 60 and faces into the threshing direction ofrotation A and is set at constant oblique angle Ø5 relative to axis X ofrotation of threshing drum 60 and is also set at a constant obliqueangle Ø6 relative to threshing direction of rotation A. Angles Ø4 and Ø5are equal to one another in this example, are each less than each ofangles Ø1 and Ø2 in this example, and are each greater than angle Ø3 andalso angle Ø6 in this example. Angle Ø6 between inner surface 255 offront extremity 262 and threshing direction of rotation A is greaterthan angle Ø3 between inner face 96 of vane 220 and threshing directionof rotation A and is less than angles Ø1 and Ø2, and inner surface 255of front extremity 262 of wear plate 202 is, and functions, as acuttings deflecting inner surface of wear plate 202 for not onlyshielding leading edge 230 and leading extremity 223 of vane 220 fromimpacting cuttings in response to rotation of threshing drum about axisX in the threshing direction of rotation A, but also deflecting cuttingsalong inner surface 255 of lower section 262 of wear plate 202 fromthreshing drum 60 in the direction indicated by arrowed line B in FIG.11 toward inner face 96 of vane 220 in response to rotation of threshingdrum 60 in the threshing direction of rotation A placing the cuttings inthe path of the oncoming inner face 96 of vane 220 for allowing thecuttings to be driven by and along inner face 96 of vane 220 tothreshing drum 60 of thresher 55 for threshing in the direction ofarrowed line B in FIG. 11. As explained above, in a particularembodiment of flight assembly 201A angles Ø1 and Ø2 are each 65 degrees,angle Ø3 is 25 degrees, angles Ø4 and Ø5 are each 55 degrees, and angleØ6 is 35 degrees.

It is to be emphasized that in response to rotation of threshing drum 60in the threshing direction of rotation A about axis X of threshing drum60, flight 220 leads with wear plate 202 releasably affixed to leadingextremity 223 shielding and protecting leading extremity 223 and leadingedge 230 of vane 220 from impacting cuttings, in which front edge 253Aof outer end 253 of wear plate 202 cuts into the cuttings so as to cutthem further, inner surface 255 of front extremity 262 of wear plate 202deflects cuttings to inner face 96 of flight 220 for driving thecuttings to thresher drum 60 for threshing in the direction of arrowedline B in FIG. 11. Furthermore, because inner surface 255 of wear plate202 is directed into the threshing direction of rotation A of threshingdrum 60, the entirety of inner surface 255 of wear plate 202 extendingfrom inner end 252 of wear plate 202 to outer end 253 of wear platetakes the brunt of cuttings impact protecting leading extremity 223 andleading edge 230 of vane 220 from wear and damage. Should wear plate 202become damaged or worn, it may be easily removed for repair orreplacement without having to replace vane 220 of flight 80.

As seen in FIGS. 11 and 12, flights 201 are arranged leading extremity223 with attached wear plate 202 to trailing extremity 224, and areoffset relative to each other and diametrically oppose one another.Flights 201 operate identically to one another as fully described inconnection with flight 201A, and flights 201 are sized to fully encirclecone 61A of cylindrical exterior 61 of threshing drum causing them tocooperate to form a cuttings intake or driving auger system or assemblythat forcibly rotates through the cuttings applied to cuttings intakeend 62 of thresher drum 60 of thresher 200 and forcibly takes up anddrives the cuttings to thresher drum 60 of thresher 55 in the directionof arrowed line B in FIG. 11 for threshing in response to rotation ofthreshing drum 60 in the threshing direction of rotation A about axis Xof threshing drum 60. Although threshing drum 60 incorporates twoflights 201, more can be used if so desired without departing from theinvention.

Attention is now directed to FIGS. 19-22 illustrating an alternateembodiment of the invention, namely, an alternate embodiment of a wearplate 202′ that may be assembled with flight 204, illustrated in FIGS.21 and 22, so as to produce a helical auger flight assembly. In commonwith wear plate 202, wear plate 202′ shares body 251, inner or rear end252, outer or front end 253, front edge 253A, nose 264, contact surface264A, outer surface 254, inner surface 255, inner or lower edge 256,outer or upper edge 257, bend 260, rear and front extremities 261 and262, and fastener openings 275. As seen in FIGS. 21 and 22, flight 204includes vane 220 having inner edge 221, outer edge 222, leadingextremity 223, trailing extremity 224, outer face 225, inner face 226,leading edge 230, prominence 231, and fastener openings 270. In thisembodiment, fastener openings 275 are elongate and are parallel relativeto inner or rear end 252, outer or front end 253, including front edge253A, and when wear plate 202′ is installed onto flight 204 fasteneropenings 275 are, according to the principle of the invention, parallelwith respect to leading edge 230 of leading extremity and are obliquewith respect to fastener openings 270.

As discussed above, fastener openings 275 of wear plate 202 correspondto and align with fastener openings 270 of vane 220, which concurrentlyreceive releasable fasteners in the nature of nut-and-bolt assemblies toreleasably secure wear plate 202 to vane 220. Fastener openings 275formed in wear plate 202 correspond to fastener openings 270 formed invane 220 as before, such that when aligned and fitted with thereleasable fasteners releasably connecting/affixing wear plate 202 tovane 220 produce the specific positioning of wear plate 202 relative tovane 220 detailed above and which is summarized below in conjunctionwith FIGS. 21 and 22.

In the application of wear plate 202′ onto vane 220 of flight 204, outersurface 254 of rear extremity 261 of body 251 of wear plate 202 nearinner end 252 of wear plate 202 extending between bend 260 and inner end252 of body 251 of wear plate 202 is positioned alongside of and againstso as to be in contact with inner face 226 of vane 220 of flight 204near leading extremity 223 and leading edge 230 of vane 220 of flight204. Wear plate 202 body 251 is positioned such that inner and outerends 252 and 253 and bend 260 are parallel with respect to leading edge230 of leading extremity 223 of vane 220, and outer surface 254 of rearextremity 261 of wear plate 202 extends downwardly along inner face 226of vane 220 from inner end 252 of wear plate 202 to bend 260 at leadingedge 230 of leading extremity 224 of vane 220. Bend 260 is located underleading extremity 223 edge 230 of leading extremity 223 of vane 220. Andso with wear plate 202 positioned or otherwise oriented as in FIGS. 21and 22 such that inner and outer ends 252 and 253 and bend 260 of wearplate 202 are parallel with respect to leading edge 230 of leadingextremity 223 of vane 220, body 251 of wear plate 202 thus extends alongthe length of leading edge 230 of leading extremity 223 of vane 220 fromouter edge 257 of wear plate 202 at outer edge 221 of flight 204 toinner edge 256 of wear plate 202 at inner end 232 of prominence 231.Front extremity 262 extends forwardly of leading edge 230 of flight 204to front edge 253A so as to shield leading edge 230 of flight 204 fromimpacting cuttings and for deflecting cuttings as previously described.Contact surface 264A of nose 264 is, in turn, in direct contact againstcontact surface 237 of jut 235, and forward edge 239 of prominence 231and front edge 253A of wear plate 202 converge at tip 236 of jut 235 andnose 264 of wear plate 202, respectively, where the nose 264 and the jut235 intersect. According to the described positioning of wear plate 202relative to and along leading extremity 223 of vane 220 of flight 204,wear plate 202 extends across leading extremity 223 of vane 220 acrossthe length of leading edge 230 and leading extremity 223 of vane 220 offlight 204 from outer edge 222 of flight 204 to inner end 232 ofprominence 231, and front extremity 262 of body 251 of wear plate 202extends forward away from bend 260 of body 251 of wear plate 202 andleading edge 230 of leading extremity 223 of vane 220 of flight 220 toouter end 253 of body 251 of wear plate 202 terminating distally withfront edge 253A, and contact surface 264A of nose 264 is in directcontact against contact surface 237 of jut 235, whereby forward edge 239of prominence 231 and front edge 253A of wear plate 202 converge at tip236 of jut 235 and nose 264 of wear plate 202, respectively, where thenose 264 and the jut 235 intersect. This installation of wear plate 202locates wear plate 202 in the shielding relationship.

As discussed above, fastener openings 270 through vane 220 are elongatein the direction of double arrowed line D, which direction is parallelrelative to contact surface 237 of jut 25, which again allows wear plate202 to be adjusted in reciprocal directions in the directions of doublearrowed line D so as to bring front edge 253A front edge 253A of wearplate 202 into alignment with forward edge 239 of prominence 251. Again,the parallel relationship between contact surface 237 of jut 235 offastener openings 270 ensures that contact surface 264A of nose 264remains in contact against contact surface 237 of jut 235 during theadjustment of wear plate 202 in reciprocal directions along doublearrowed line D relative to leading extremity 223 of vane 220. In wearplate 202′, fastener openings 275 are each elongate in the direction ofdouble arrowed line F in FIGS. 19-22, which is parallel relative toinner and outer ends 253 and 254, including front edge 253A, which isparallel relative to leading edge 230 of leading extremity 223 of vane220, and which is oblique relative to the direction of fastener openings270, namely, the direction of double arrowed line D. Because fasteneropenings 270 of flight 204 are each elongate in a first directionindicated by double arrowed line D, and fastener openings 275 of wearplate 202′ are each elongate in a second direction different indicatedby double arrowed line F being different from the direction of elongatefasteners 270 indicated by double arrowed line D, this permitsadjustment of the wear plate in multiple directions, namely, thereciprocal directions of double arrowed line D to position wear plate202′ so as to adjust wear plate 202′ as needed in order to bring frontedge 253A into alignment with forward edge 239 of prominence 231, andthe reciprocal directions of double arrowed line F relative to jut 235in order to bring contact surface 264A of nose 264 into direct contactwith contact surface 237 of jut 235.

The invention has been described above with reference to a preferredembodiment. However, those skilled in the art will recognize thatchanges and modifications may be made to the embodiment withoutdeparting from the nature and scope of the invention. Various changesand modifications to the embodiment herein chosen for purposes ofillustration will readily occur to those skilled in the art. To theextent that such modifications and variations do not depart from thespirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within thescope thereof.

Having fully described the invention in such clear and concise terms asto enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the same,the invention claimed is:
 1. Apparatus, comprising: an auger flightincluding a leading edge and a first contact surface ahead of theleading edge; a wear plate including an outer surface, an inner surface,and a nose including a second contact surface extending between theouter surface and the inner surface; and the wear plate extendsforwardly of the leading edge and to the second contact surface of thenose with the second contact surface in direct contact against the firstcontact surface of the auger flight ahead of the leading edge, when thewear plate is connected to the auger flight.
 2. The apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the auger flight additionally includes a prominence,and the prominence extends outwardly from the leading edge to an outerend of the prominence, the prominence having the first contact surface.3. Apparatus, comprising: an auger flight including an inner face, anouter face, a leading edge, and a first contact surface ahead of theleading edge; a wear plate including an outer surface, an inner surface,and a nose including a second contact surface extending between theouter surface and the inner surface; and the wear plate is positionedalong the inner face of the auger flight and extends forwardly of theleading edge and to the second contact surface of the nose with thesecond contact surface in direct contact against the first contactsurface of the auger flight ahead of the leading edge, when the wearplate is connected to the auger flight.
 4. The apparatus according toclaim 3, wherein the auger flight additionally includes a prominence,and the prominence extends outwardly from the leading edge to an outerend of the prominence, the prominence having the first contact surface.5. Apparatus, comprising: a combine harvester threshing drum including acuttings intake end including an auger flight extending outward from thethreshing drum, the auger flight including a leading edge directed intoa threshing direction of rotation of the threshing drum, and a firstcontact surface ahead of the leading edge; a wear plate including anouter surface, an inner surface, and a nose including a second contactsurface extending between the outer surface and the inner surface; andthe wear plate extends forwardly of the leading edge and to the secondcontact surface of the nose with the second contact surface in directcontact against the first contact surface of the auger flight ahead ofthe leading edge, when the wear plate is connected to the auger flight.6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the auger flightadditionally includes a prominence, and the prominence extends outwardlyfrom the leading edge to an outer end of the prominence, the prominencehaving the first contact surface.
 7. Apparatus, comprising: a combineharvester threshing drum including a cuttings intake end including anauger flight extending outward from the threshing drum, the auger flightincluding a leading edge directed into a threshing direction of rotationof the threshing drum, an outer face directed away from the threshingdirection of rotation of the threshing drum, an inner face beingdirected into the threshing direction of rotation of the threshing drum,and a first contact surface ahead of the leading edge; a wear plateincluding an outer surface, an inner surface, and a nose including asecond contact surface extending between the outer surface and the innersurface; and the wear plate is positioned along the inner face of theauger flight and extends forwardly of the leading edge and to the secondcontact surface of the nose with the second contact surface in directcontact against the first contact surface of the auger flight ahead ofthe leading edge, when the wear plate is connected to the auger flight.8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the auger flightadditionally includes a prominence, and the prominence extends outwardlyfrom the leading edge to an outer end of the prominence, the prominencehaving the first contact surface.